I've been looking for a hippo amigurumi, but can't find one with quite the right shape. and I'd like to have one with an open mouth. plus I need to make the, um- thong, I guess? anyway, help would be greatly appreciated!

Ok that was pretty funny! Can you wing it? I think you could probably wing it, and just plot out the places where the hippo is not 'smooth' in the round, like the knees and buns... I think you could start with the 'trunk' of his body, create the buns with a seperate piece of yarn after the whole thing is stuffed like this....http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=133283.0 for the knees you could to a popcorn cluster, same with elbows and any other bulges, I might even put the 'thong' on him after he is made. His head could be tricky, but it is like two ovals side by side... the open mouth (lower jaw) you could do seperately and sew on after... I dunno, that's not a pattern but maybe that gives you some inspiration and encouragement to just go for it!!!! You MUST post if you get it!

ooh no, I really don't know if I'm up for "winging it" . if I don't think of any alternatives I might give it a try, but I've only been crocheting for a few months. I can do most stitches I run across, and I've made an amigurumi elephant before. but this is far above my abilities, I'm afraid!